Card magazine



Nov. 3, 1936. w. w. LASKER CARD MAGA Z I NE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.2, 1935 Nd: grw O v u L o o 0 Q MOE INVENTOR- WILLIAM W. LASKER NOV. 3,1936. w, w. s 2,059,254

CARD MAGAZ INE Filed Nov. 2, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 FIG.7

FIG. 5

INVENTORI, WILLIAM w. LASKER .1 \L I i I HIS A TORNEY Patented Nov. 3,1936 UNETED STATES cam) MAGAZINE William W. Lasker, Brooklyn, N. Y.,assignor to Remington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application November 2, 1935, Serial No. 48,063

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in machines which operate by theuse of perforated data cards, and particularly to the magazine in whichsaid data cards are stored pending their use by the machine.

Merchandise accounting systems have been developed in which a tag wasperforated to show certain essential data such as stock item number,department number, value, and in the case of wearing apparel the size ofthe garment. In general, these accounting systems have required thatwhen the merchandise was sold, the data portion of the tag was removed,and placed in an electrical transmitter, sometimes dubbed a waflle iron,from which a punch for standard tabulator cards was actuated. It appearsthen, that if these tags could be utilized to operate a tabulatingmachine, and could be handled in a card sorting machine, an expensivefeature of the system equipment could be eliminated. With this in view,tabulators and sorters have both been modified to handle the merchandisetag, which is a card of dimensions much smaller than those of the cardheretofore used with these machines.

In carrying out the system as intended, it is necessary to run the tagsthrough the machines before they are attached to the goods, and againafter the sale has been completed. This means that the card magazine ofboth the tabulator and the sorter must be made adjustable as to thelength of the card.

The present invention contemplates an adjustable card magazine forembodiment in a tabulator and/or a sorter, to permit the utilization ofcards of different lengths, but of unaltered width.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device foralternatively altering the length of a magazine for holding cards.

Another object is to provide manipulative means for securing anadjustable card magazine end in either of its alternative positions.

A still further object is to provide a manipulative device which may belatched in either its effective or ineffective position by means commonto both positions.

The present invention contemplates a magazine for storing perforatedrecords of differing lengths, comprising fixed members forming the endsof said magazine when cards of greater length are stored therein, amanipulative member forming one end of said magazine when cards oflesser length are stored, and common latching means for securing saidmanipulative device in either effective or ineffective position.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a magazine for storing perforated cards,showing the mechanism of the invention mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1 taken on the line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a view of a card such as may be used with a machine equippedwith the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the latching means.

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the device latched in its ineffectiveposition.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the intermediate position ofthe mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Figs. 5 and 6 showing the device latched inits effective position.

In a machine which utilizes cards of the general character of aperforated record card, the magazine is provided with an end piece I0.This end piece, which usually is channel shaped, may be of any suitablematerial, and either cast or shaped from sheet metal.

The mechanism of the invention comprises, hinge butts ll, rivets l2,hinge strap l3, hinge pins I4, rivets l5, corner member l6, latches ll,knob l8, ball l9, and spring 2|]. The hinge butts H are slidably mountedon channel shaped end piece ID by shoulder rivets l2. Each butt carriesa hinge strap l3 secured to it in slidable relation by hinge pins l4.Spanning the hinge straps l3, and secured thereto by rivets I5, is anangle shaped corner member l6. Latches I! are provided. Each latch ispivotally mounted on the front flange of end piece l0, and is providedwith an operating knob I8 within which is a detent consisting of ball l9and spring 20.

Let it be assumed that merchandise tags, such as are shown in Fig. 3,are to be passed through a machine. The angle corner member i6 issecurely fastened, as shown in Fig. 5, by latches ll being engaged overone leg of angle I6, and the detent balls l9 being entered inappropriate holes in the front flange of the channeled end piece ID.

If the data portion of the tags, that is, the portion shown to the leftof the dotted line in Fig. 3, are to be passed through the machine,latches I! are removed from engagement with angle I6 by the manipulationof knobs l8. Corner angle I6 is then moved straight to the front untilhinge pins l4 rest in the notches at the rearward ends of hinge straps13, as shown in shown, whereupon corner angle i 6-is turned rear- Wardlyabout hinge pin l4, until hinge strap i3 rests against the front flangeof end piece l0.

Latches I! are then turned about their respective pivots until they havebeen returned to their previous positions. Corner angle I6 is therebylocked in the position shown in Fig. 7, and the magazine is set forhandling cards of the lesser length.

While I have described what I consider to be a highly desirableembodiment of my invention, it is obvious that many changes in formcould be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I,therefore, do not limit myself to the exact form herein shown anddescribed, nor to anything less than the whole of my invention ashereinbefore set forth, and as hereinafter claimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. In combination with a device for varying the length of a'perforatedrecord card storage magazine, a plurality of latches for securing saiddevice in ineffective position, a plurality of hinge elements forguiding said device to effective position, and means integral with saidlatches for securing said device in effective position.

2. In a magazine capable of storing perforated cards of differentlengths, the combination of fixed ends for rendering said magazinesuitable for storing cards of one length and amanipulative device forrendering said magazine suitable for storing cards of lesser length,said device being supported by one of said ends, and comprising aplurality of hinge elements for guiding said device to effectiveposition, and latching means adapted to retain said manipulative devicein either its effective or ineffective position.

3. A magazine for storing perforated record cards of different lengths,comprising fixed members forming the ends of said magazine when cards ofone length are stored therein, and a manipulative device supported byone of said fixed members for forming one end of said magazine whencards of lesser length are stored, said device comprising a, pluralityof hinge elements for guiding'sa id device to effective position, andlatching means adapted to retain said manipulative device in either itseffective or ineffective position.

WILLIAM W. LASKER.

